Saint Joseph’s College of Maine seeks to enroll qualified men and women of all religious faiths. Students who have challenged themselves academically, who are committed to learning through involvement, who participate in community service, and who believe in their potential for success, are encouraged to apply.

Decisions on admission to the College are made on an individual basis, taking into account the following factors: challenge, depth, and number of college-preparatory courses in high school; grade point average in these courses; rank in class; writing skills; community service; special talents and achievements; recommendations; leadership skills; SAT or ACT scores; and demonstrable interest in attending Saint Joseph’s College.

The College recommends that students take a full set of college-preparatory courses in high school, including: four years of English; at least three years of mathematics (Algebra I and II, Geometry); at least two years of laboratory science (Biology, Chemistry); at least two courses in history or social sciences; at least two years of a foreign language; and other college-preparatory courses. Students interested in the sciences or Nursing should be sure to take a more challenging curriculum in mathematics and science. For any intended major a typical transcript from a candidate for admission should include sixteen or more college-preparatory courses. Applicants for the Nursing Program should review the Nursing Program Admission Plan listed below.

Application for Admission

Early Action Admission Plan

Candidates for admission under this plan must complete the application process by November 15. Students applying through the Early Action Plan will be notified of their admission status by mid-December. Students applying through Early Action may be deferred and be reconsidered during the regular admission process beginning January 1st. Early Action candidates should identify Saint Joseph’s as one of their top choices and should have achieved an exemplary grade point average in college-preparatory courses in high school, and scored competitively on the SAT or ACT.

Students accepted under the Early Action plan retain the right to respond to the College’s offer of acceptance by May 1.

Regular Admission Plan

Notification for September entry begins in mid-December and continues through the early summer. The priority deadline for applying for admission is March 1. Applications submitted after March 1 will be considered on a space-available basis. Spring/January entry: Notification of admission begins in mid-October.

Nursing Program Admission Plan

Nursing application deadline is January 15.

Application Costs

The College accepts the Common Application. There is no fee to complete an application for admission.

Enrollment Confirmation

Admitted students reserve their places in the entering class by submitting a $200 tuition deposit. Residence hall space reservations require a $100 deposit. Deposits are refundable for the fall semester if written notice is given prior to May 1. Deposits are refundable for the spring semester if written notice is given prior to January 1.

Advanced Placement and Credit by Examination

Following the recommendation of the American Council of Education (ACE), the College will award credit for Advanced Placement grades of 3 or higher on any Advanced Placement Exam. The Registrar in consultation with the individual academic department involved shall determine the specific course or courses for which credit will be awarded.

The College accepts passing scores for challenge exams as recommended by ACE with the exception of Honors HY 101 Western Civilization I and Honors HY 102 Western Civilization II. Students may receive up to 30 undergraduate credits through examinations such as CLEP, Excelsior, and DANTES DDST programs. For specific information and approval of using challenge exams to meet program requirements, contact the Registrar and your faculty advisor.

Licensed Practical Nurses (LPN’s) and Registered Nurses (RN’s) who transfer into the nursing program on campus (BSN) or the BSN Opportunities Program should contact the Department of Nursing about challenge examinations for designated courses.

Our College Entrance Examination Board (CEEB) number is 3755.

International Baccalaureate (IB) Transfer Credit

Saint Joseph’s College recognizes IB level work. Credit may be awarded for higher level examinations (HL) completed with a grade of 5 or better. The college will determine the number and equivalence of actual transfer credits after evaluating the applicant’s individual program of studies. Credit is awarded only upon receipt of the official International Baccalaureate transcript with the examination scores. Grades and GPA do not transfer. Saint Joseph’s College does not award credit for Standard Level IB Examinations.

Standardized Testing

Applicants are required to take the Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT ) or the American College Testing Program Examination (ACT). The SAT II is optional. Scores may be sent directly to the College through the examination board or as part of the secondary school transcript. Our College Entrance Examination Board (CEEB) number is 3755.

Transfer Students

Saint Joseph’s College enrolls transfer students in both the fall and spring semesters. Prospective students should demonstrate a strong record of success in post-secondary studies. Applicants must submit official transcripts from all secondary and post-secondary institutions attended, recommendations from a college advisor or work supervisor, completed application form and an official high school transcript. Students who have earned an associate or baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution of higher education may not be required to submit an official high school transcript.

Credit towards graduation from Saint Joseph’s College is granted for courses taken at accredited institutions with a grade of 2.0 or above on a 4.0 scale, if those courses are deemed both comparable to a course at the College and relevant to the student’s proposed program of study at the College. Other appropriate college level work with a grade of 2.0 or better will be transferred to the Saint Joseph’s College transcript, but they will not count toward a degree program at the College.

Credit for course work taken at non-accredited institutions may be granted on a provisional basis. Transfer credit is awarded by the Registrar in collaboration with individual academic departments. Transfer applicants will receive an official evaluation of their postsecondary course work after acceptance to a degree program. Students must complete a minimum of 32 credits at Saint Joseph’s College in order to meet degree requirements.

International Students

Applications from international students are actively encouraged. Saint Joseph’s College is authorized to enroll non-immigrant alien students on an F-1 student visa. In addition to the requirements for regular admission, international students must submit, in English, certified copies of their secondary school transcript, graduation diploma, standardized testing from their home country, financial certification form, and a satisfactory score from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL).

For more information on TOEFL, contact your local U.S. Consulate or Embassy or write to:

TOEFL Services
P.O. Box 6151
Princeton, NJ 08541
USA

International transfer students must also submit certified copies of their post-secondary course work as well as an external transcript evaluation from an authorized agency. Deadlines for international students to apply are April 15 for the fall semester and October 15 for the spring semester.

Upon notification of acceptance and prior to issuing the I-20 form, international applicants must document in full how they will finance their education at Saint Joseph’s College.

Campus Visits

Campus tours, interviews, and participation in small group visitation programs are strongly recommended for all prospective first-year and transfer students. Students are urged to visit as often as possible during the year preceding possible enrollment as such visits are the foundation for making a good decision about attending Saint Joseph’s.

The Office of Admission is open year-round for individual visits from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Saturday morning visits are available but must be scheduled in advance. Tours are available on a daily basis. Please call to determine campus tour schedules. The College also sponsors visitation programs. Listings are available on our Web site (www.sjcme.edu) and directly from the Office of Admission (Tel: 800-338-7057; e-mail: admission@sjcme.edu).

Athletic Eligibility

Applicants planning to play a varsity sport at the collegiate level must meet eligibility requirements. Saint Joseph’s College is a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA III) and the Great Northeast Atlantic Conference (GNAC). Field Hockey is an associate member of the North Atlantic Conference (NAC). International student athletes should contact the Office of Admission for more information on eligibility requirements.

All students participating in intercollegiate athletics must be full-time students (minimum 12 credit hours). Full-time students whose cumulative grade point average (GPA) reflect satisfactory academic standing and are making satisfactory progress towards a degree (as described in the statement on Good Academic Standing and Satisfactory Progress) are eligible for participation in intercollegiate athletics. Athletic eligibility is monitored and reviewed before each semester and at the conclusion of each academic year by the Athletic Department in cooperation with the Registrar and the Faculty Athletic Representative. Students who do not meet the minimum academic standing and satisfactory progress benchmarks will be ineligible for participation in intercollegiate athletics. Students who are ineligible may apply to the Athletic Eligibility Committee for reinstatement.

Disabilities Services

Saint Joseph’s College, in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, provides accommodations to students who have physical, psychological or learning disabilities. Students who have a documented disability and wish accommodation, are responsible for submitting current appropriate documentation of disability and accommodation needs from a licensed professional to The Academic Center as early as possible before the semester begins.

For more information regarding the College’s disability services, contact the Accommodations Coordinator at 207-893-7562.

Reserve Officers Training Corps (ARMY ROTC)

Army ROTC provides leadership and management skills and opportunities to qualified students while they attend college. Through a joint agreement with the University of New Hampshire’s ROTC Department, a student may participate in the Reserve Officer Training Corps while pursuing any baccalaureate degree at Saint Joseph’s College. First-year students and sophomores learn about the history of warfare, land navigation, and many leadership and management skills. Juniors and seniors expand their knowledge of military skills and put their leadership skills to practical use during leadership laboratories. There are benefits offered through the program. Physical training and classroom instruction is provided at the University of Southern Maine, Gorham Campus. For more information about Army ROTC, contact the Military Science Office at 603-862-7075.